AgDay Daily Recap -March 19, 2013

GOOD MORNING I'M CLINTON GRIFFITHS. THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING ROLLS AROUND THIS WEEK, AND UNLIKE LAST YEAR, MANY PLANTERS AREN'T DOING THE SAME.

CROPS:

IT HAS BEEN WARM ENOUGH FOR SOUTHERN FARMERS TO GET STARTED. BUT IN THE EAST, ITS NOT JUST COLD BUT FIELDS ARE EXCESSIVLY WET.THAT'S A STARK CONTRAST TO THE WESTERN CORN BELT WERE STATES LIKE SOUTH DAKOTA AND NEBRASKA HAVE AREAS OF SEVERE TO EXTREME DROUGHT. WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR USDA'S PROJECTIONS FOR RECORD CORN AND SOYBEAN PRODUCTION IN 2013? REGIONAL REPORTER MICHELLE ROOK LOOKS FOR ANSWERS.

COLORADO FIRE:

AN EARLY-SEASON WILDFIRE IN COLORADO SERVES AS A REMINDER OF JUST HOW DRY IT IS.
AN 800-ACRE WILDFIRE IS BURNING NEAR FORT COLLINS. GUSTY WINDS AND WARM WEATHER ARE HAMPERING EFFORTS TO CONTROL THE FIRE. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME EVACUATIONS.

CROP WATCH:CROPWATCH TAKES US TO WEST-CENTRAL IOWA AND CRAWFORD COUNTY. A FARMER TOLD AGWEB THAT GOT SOME REAL NICE MOISTURE IN RECENT WEEKS - ABOUT TWO INCHES. AND HE SAYS MOST WENT IN GROUND. HE SAYS FARMERS SPIRITS HAVE PICKED UP.AND IN WALSH COUNTY, NORTH DAKOTA, ONE FARMER SAYS NOT A POUND OF SNOW HAS MELTED YET. THE ROAD DITCHES ARE LEVEL FULL OF SNOW-DRIFTING ONTO THE ROAD SURFACE AND FREEZING, CAUSING VERY ICY DRIVING CONDITIONS. LOOKS LIKE A MAY START AROUND THERE.

SHAMROCK FARMS:

ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST FAMILY OWNED DAIRIES IS EXPANDING IN VIRGINA. SHAMROCK FARMS SAYS ITS BUILDING A 50 MILLION DOLLAR STATE OF THE ART FACILITY IN AUGUST COUNTY. THE 130-THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT FACILITY IS SLATED TO BE OPEN IN 2014. SHAMROCK SAYS ITS EXPANDING TO HELP MEET DEMAND FOR NEW MILK PRODUCTS BEING USED BY SPORTS TEAMS.

JAPAN JOINS TPP:

JAPAN SAYS IT'S READY TO JOIN THE TRANS PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP... A FREE PACT BETWEEN THE AMERICA'S AND PACIFIC RIM COUNTRIES. IT'S A DECISION THAT'S BEEN SLOW IN THE MAKING DUE TO FARMERS THERE. FOR DECADES, FARMERS IN JAPAN HAVE BEEN CLOSELY PROTECTED. BUT CONTINUED ECONOMIC STAGNATION IS OUTWEIGHING THOSE CONCERNS. LEADERSHIP IS SEARCHING FOR WAYS TO BOOST THE ECONOMY. A TPP AGREEMENT WOULD MEAN PUTTING DAIRY ON A LEVEL FIELD WITH OTHER COUNTRIES. FOR PLACES LIKE CANADA THERE'S BEEN TALK IT WOULD REQUIRE THEM TO SUSPEND PRODUCTION LIMITS. IT ALSO MEANS MORE DIRECT COMPETITION WITH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND.

ABUSE VIDEO LEGISLATION:

AND LEGISLATIONS FIGHTING UNDERCOVER ABUSE VIDEOS ARE GAINING TRACTION AROUND THE COUNTRY. BILLS ARE NOW PENDING IN CALIFORNIA, NEBRASKA AND TENNESSEE. THOSE REQUIRE EVIDENCE OF ABUSE BE GIVEN TO LAW ENFORCEMENT WITHIN 24-48 HOURS. BACKERS SAY--IF THERE'S ABUSE TAKING PLACE IT NEEDS TO BE STOPPED NOT ALLOWED TO CONTINUE SO SOMEONE CAN MAKE A VIDEO. ON THE OTHER SIDE, SO CALLED ANIMAL ADVOCATES CLAIM ITS NOT ENOUGH TIME FULL DOCUMENT ANY ILLEGAL ACTIVIITY.

ANALYSIS:

IN AGRIBUSINESS TODAY - ALLEDALE INCORPORATED IS PROJECTING THAT U-S FARMERS WILL PLANT MORE CORN AND SOYBEANS THAN THE GOVERNMENT IS FORECASTING. THE GRAIN MARKETER PUT CORN ACRES AT 96-POINT-NINE MILLION ACRES. THAT SAID, ALLENDALE SAYS CORN ACRES WON'T MATCH WHAT FARMERS PLANTED LAST YEAR. SOYBEAN PLANTINGS, HOWEVER, WILL RISE. IN ANALYSIS, WHERE ARE GRAIN PRICES HEADED? FARM DIRECTOR AL PELL HAS MORE IN ANALYSIS.

NON SLEEPING BEARS:

ABOUT THIS TIME OF YEAR, BEARS ARE STARTING TO COME OUT OF HIBERNATION. THEY'RE HUNGRY AND READY TO COME OUT OF THEIR DENS. BUT FOR A GROUP OF CUBS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, THEY HAVEN'T SLEPT ALL WINTER. THE EXTRAORDINARLY LARGE GROUP JUST WOULDN'T SETTLE-DOWN FOR A LONG-WINTER'S NAP. ODDLY ENOUGH, IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE DROUGHT WHICH CREATED THIS PROBLEM. STAYING AWAKE ALL WINTER WON'T HURT THE BEARS ANY, HE SAID, AND IF ANYTHING, THEY ARE BETTER OFF HAVING SPENT THE WINTER IN A LARGE GROUP.KILHAM KEEPS THE CUBS IN AN 8-ACRE FORESTED ENCLOSURE BEHIND HIS HOUSE UNTIL SPRING, WHEN HE WORKS WITH THE STATE FISH AND GAME DEPARTMENT TO RELEASE THEM IN REMOTE LOCATIONS.

BEYOND EGGS:

AND HOW ABOUT STARTING THE MORNING WITH A PLATE FULL OF EGGS-- MADE WITHOUT THE CHICKEN.

DIET MEALS:

IT'S HARD TO AVOID THE COMMERCIALS FOR WEIGHT-LOSS PROGRAMS AND SPECIALTY DIET FOODS. AND DON'T EXPECT A LET-UP ANY TIME SOON.

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